Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 Work Folders Service privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows. It has been rated as critical. Impacted is an unknown function of the component Work Folders Service. The manipulation leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2020-1516. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System) and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown function of the component Work Folders Service. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Work Folders Service improperly handles memory. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application to elevate privileges. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows Work Folders Service handles memory.

The weakness was presented 08/11/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated in cooperation with Microsoft. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2020-1516. The attack may be initiated remotely. The successful exploitation requires a simple authentication. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/23/2026). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Work Folders Service improperly handles memory.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

See VDB-159597, VDB-159595, VDB-159594 and VDB-159592 for similar entries. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Windows

Version

• 7 SP1
• 8.1
• 10
• 10 1607
• 10 1709
• 10 1803
• 10 1809
• 10 1903
• 10 1909
• 10 2004
• RT 8.1
• Server 1903
• Server 1909
• Server 2004
• Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Server 2008 SP2
• Server 2012
• Server 2012 R2
• Server 2016
• Server 2019

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/
• Product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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